THE band of the Welsh Guards, playing at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, has signed a £1m record contract to release songs they will perform at Westminster Abbey on April 29.

But royal fans won’t have to wait until then – the regimental band is releasing A Royal Tribute on April 4 showcasing their set list.

The record includes a performance from the Choir of Westminster Abbey, and also features the Treorchy Male Voice Choir, Aled Jones and soprano Gwawr Edwards.

Album tracks include themes of royalty and Welsh heritage.

God Bless The Prince of Wales features a blaze of trumpets, choir and timpani, while Men Of Harlech was described by Major Stephen Barnwell, the band’s director of music, as “the best version I’ve ever heard played by a band”.

Newport-born actor Michael Sheen follows in the footsteps of another great Welshman, Richard Burton, by reciting an extract from Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood, against a backdrop of the band playing All Through The Night.

He said: “The Band of the Welsh Guards are a very loved and revered group and to be invited to work with them is wonderful and I’m in great company on this record.”

Good work is good for you

WORK may make you happy but new research raises questions about what types of jobs are good for your mental health.

An Australian study finds that a badly-paid, poorly supported, or short-term job can be as harmful for a person’s mental health as no job at all.

The findings could have important implications for the Welsh workforce as the public sector prepares to shed thousands of jobs.

The research, published online in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, says there is evidence to show that employment is associated with physical and mental health and that the mental health of those out of work tends to improve when they find a job.